Vocal health for singers is very important when it comes to singing your best. There are several things that can have an effect upon the quality of your vocal performance. What’s important is that you recognize problems and keep them at bay before a big performance. Here are a few common things to keep in mind when it comes to your vocal health:

The effect of alcoholic beverages

Alcohol dilates blood vessels in your body, which is not a good thing for your vocal cords if you plan to sing. When the blood vessels dilate, the blood thins and comes to the surface, which makes you more susceptible to a hemorrhage on your vocal cords. Limit your intake of alcohol to those days that you don’t have to practice or perform and drink plenty of water on those days that you choose to drink, because alcohol dehydrates you.

How cigarette smoke affects your vocal health

Cigarette smoke causes the tissue in your throat to become irritated and inflamed and this makes it more difficult for you to sing well. If you want to sing well, don’t smoke and avoid secondhand smoke as well. You especially want to avoid smoke several days before a lesson or performance.

Clearing your throat

If you are constantly clearing your throat, you should find out the reason behind it so you can break the habit. Constantly clearing your throat could be an indication of a medical condition like acid reflux or postnasal drip. See if you can get in the habit of swallowing instead of clearing your throat and go see your doctor to determine the reason behind the mucus build up. For many singers, throat clearing is just an unconscious habit that results from trying to clear the vocal cords for singing. Singing with a little mucus on your vocal cords shouldn’t be too much of a problem.

Vocal health and the foods you eat

Some types of foods will irritate your voice For instance, dairy foods are noted to cause increased mucus production and this leads you to clear your throat more frequently. Some people claim that spicy foods don’t enhance their singing. Pay attention to how your body reacts to certain foods, so you know what to avoid the day before or day of a big concert or performance.

How allergens affect vocal health

Sensitivities to allergens, such as pollen or dust, may cause the vocal folds and throat to swell. Your doctor may be able to prescribe medication to help you overcome your allergy problems. There are some basic precautions you can take at home for allergy relief. Clean your house often so dust does not have a chance to settle and collect and buy non-allergenic bedding to sleep on. Listen to the local weather report to find out the pollen count. Pollen counts are usually much higher in the early morning hours or the early evening. If you need to spend time outdoors, doing so in the middle of the day is a good idea so you encounter less pollen.

How medication affects your vocal health

Many of the medications that you take to treat a runny nose or watery eyes will dry out your throat too. If you can’t avoid taking the medications, be sure to drink a lot of water so your throat won’t get dry when you sing. If it is possible, you might want to avoid taking any medications before your singing engagement.

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